Rt. Reverend Exarch Joseph S. Haggar, better known as "Father Joe," passed away peacefully early Sunday morning March, 23, 2025, on the third Sunday of Lent and the Veneration of the Holy Cross, at the HopeHealth Hulitar Hospice Center in Providence, Rhode Island.  He was surrounded by family, parishioners, and Father Ephrem Kardouh, his successor at St. Basil the Great Melkite Catholic Church in Lincoln, Rhode Island, where Father Joe served for over 58 of his 59 years as a Catholic priest.  He is survived by his nieces Julie (Albano) Plaut and her husband Jerry of Canton, Georgia, Joanne (Albano) McGarrh and her husband Barry of Henderson, Kentucky, Renee (Colabella) Chorun of Flemington, New Jersey, and his nephew Mark Colabella and his wife Martha of Medfield, Massachusetts, many grand and great-grand nieces and nephews and his devoted parishioners of St. Basil's Church.  He was predeceased by his parents Sam N. and Julia M. (Homsany) Haggar, his brother Phillip, sister Eleanor (Haggar) Albano and brother-in-law Sal Albano, and sister Yvonne (Haggar) Colabella and brother-in-law Richard Colabella.

Father Joe was born in Brooklyn, New York, on September 29,1939. He entered Saint Basil Seminary, Methuen, Massachusetts in 1957 and was awarded a B.A. Degree from Saint Anselm College, Manchester, New Hampshire.  The Most Reverend George Hakim, Archbishop of Galilee, ordained him a Lector and Subdeacon in1964. The Most Reverend Stephen Kociscko, Ruthenian Catholic Bishop of Passaic, New Jersey, ordained him a Deacon in 1965. Ordination to the priesthood in 1966 was at the hand of the Most Reverend George Hakim. Immediately following ordination, Father Joe was assigned as Assistant Pastor of Saint Joseph Church, Akron, Ohio, for approximately six months. On July 5,1966, Father Joe was transferred to Rhode Island where he became Assistant Pastor to Saint Basil the Great Melkite Catholic Church in Central Falls, and to Saint Elias Church, in Woonsocket. That same year, he was named Notary-Actuary of the Marriage Tribunal of the Melkite Exarchate under Bishop Justin Najmy. In 1968, Father Haggar earned a Licentiate in Canon Law from the Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Post-graduate work was completed at Boston College and Saint John University resulting in Sociology, Psychology, and English Degrees. He was fluent in Arabic and well-versed in French, Greek, and Latin.

Father Joe was named Pastor of Saint Basil the Great Melkite Catholic Church, Central Falls, Rhode Island, on July 16,1973, and was the youngest priest in Rhode Island to be made pastor and he assumed the same role in Saint Elias Church, Woonsocket, Rhode Island, on July 1, 1980, while other Diocesan priests served as associate pastors under the leadership of Father Joe until the sale of the Church on January 26, 2016. Archbishop Joseph Tawil named him Judicial Vicar (Officialis) of the Marriage Tribunal of the Diocese of Newton in May 1982, an office he held until January 1986. During his years of service to the Diocese of Newton, he served as Director of the Associated Charities, the Presbyteral Council, Personnel Board, Retirement/Pension Board and Liturgical Commission, and Dean of the New England Clergy. He held positions on the College of Consultors and Finance Council until his "retirement" on June 30, 2020.

One of his achievements is the publication of the Byzantine Melkite Sacramentary in 1970 and was also responsible for setting up the liturgical calendar (ordo) until 1999, which is still printed by other members of the clergy. He is also the composer of several musical chants.

The rank of Archimandrite was bestowed upon him on July 6, 1983, by Archbishop Joseph Tawil at the conclusion of the 24th National Melkite Convention, which was hosted by Saint Basil the Great Melkite Catholic Church.

ln 1987,the Central Falls School Department named Father Haggar a member of the Committee on AIDS Education for the youth in the school.

On the occasion of his 50th birthday, September 29, 1990, The Honorable Thomas Lazieh, Mayor of Central Falls, along with the Chief of Police, Robert Sasso, appointed Father Joe as Chaplain of the Central Falls Police department with the rank of Lieutenant. One year later, on the occasion of his 25th Anniversary of his Ordination, he was promoted to the rank of Captain. In December 1991, the Mayor and Chief of Fire, appointed Father Joe also as Chaplain of the Central Falls Fire Department, positions which he held until his death.

Upon the death of Archbishop Ignatius Ghattas on October 11,1992, Father Haggar was elected by the College of Consultors to be Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Newton during its vacancy, until an appointment of a new Bishop was made by the Melkite Synod and the See of Rome.

In 1989, during Father Joe's tenure, a major project was started to provide the Parish with a facility that would accommodate its present and future needs and a 22-acre parcel was purchased in Lincoln, Rhode Island. After the land was paid in full, plans were developed for a new complex of 22,600 square feet which included a Church, Religious Educational Facility and Cultural Center on one level. Construction started in 1997 and the complex was dedicated on October 11, 1998. The Church on Broad Street was sold to another religious group.

On March 29, 2000, the Honorable Burton Stallwood, Administrator of the Town of Lincoln, along with the Chief of Police, William Strain, appointed Father Joe as Chaplain of the Lincoln Police Department.

On February 13, 2003, the Holy Father, John Paul II, Pope of Rome, appointed, upon the recommendation of our Father and Shepherd, His Beatitude Patriarch Gregory III, in union with his Holy Synod, Father Joe as successor to His Excellency of blessed memory Eparch Sleiman Haijar, as Eparch of the Melkite Eparchy of St. Sauveur of Montreal and all of Canada.  Because of his serious health concerns, Father Joe humbly and exceptionally requested the Holy Father to excuse him from this obligation of service to the Church.

On July 19, 2003, at the 39th National Melkite Convention in Providence, Rhode Island, Father Haggar was elevated to Exarch, an honorary ecclesiastical title of distinction bestowed by bishops and patriarchs, as a mark of respect and gratitude for service to the Church. He exercises jurisdictional authority over a certain area as an emissary of the Bishop or Patriarch (Vicar Apostolic). The insignia of this honorific rank are the mitre, pectoral cross, ring, and pastoral staff.

January 11, 2005 was another mark of distinction when Archbishop Cyril Salim Bustros, Eparch of Newton, well aware of the experience and ability of the Rt. Rev. Exarch Joseph S. Haggar, appointed him Protosyncellus of the Eparchy of Newton with the rights, privileges, and responsibilities attached to that office. This appointment is comparable to the title of Vicar General in the Roman Catholic Tradition. His duties included assisting the Archbishop in the governing of the Eparchy and standing in for him when necessary and second in command until August 2001.

On Saturday evening September 30, 2006, the Burning of the Mortgage of the St. Basil the Great Melkite Catholic Church Complex took place in 8 years rather than 15 years, a highlight in the Parish history. Auxiliary Bishop Nicholas Samra was present at the Grand Banquet which took place in the Cultural Center with Father Joe present as well as a fulI house of parishioners, dignitaries, and friends. The weekend ended with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday, October 1, 2006, by His Excellency, Cyril Bustros.

Come October 13 and 14, 2007, Exarch Joseph S. Haggar rejoiced at a special milestone of the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of St. Basil's Church, and his ministry among the people for 41 years. The tradition of fellowship and love that Father Joe enjoyed during this tenure has gone unparalleled.

Under the direction of Rt. Rev. Exarch Joseph S. Haggar and St. Basil's Cemetery Committee, the cemetery has had three major development projects. In 1980, the Chapel of Joseph & Nicodemus was constructed which is used for committal services. In 1992,the cemetery roads were widened and repaved. The latest project was in 2009, when the cemetery was expanded by adding an additional 200 grave lots, ensuring that St. Basil's Cemetery will last for another 100 years.

Sunday April 6, 2016, crowned the year with the Gala Celebration of Father Joe's 50th Anniversary to the Holy Priesthood. He celebrated the Holy & Divine Liturgy while Bishop Nicholas Samra presided. Following the Liturgy, a Grand Banquet was held in the Cultural Center to honor Father Joe with a Center saturated with clergy, dignitaries, family as well as his personal physicians and nurses who attended to his never-ending illnesses during these troublesome yet fruitful years.

Again, no end to the auspicious occasions that Father Joe and the Parish at large witnessed. Sept. 15, 2017, marked the 110th Anniversary of the Founding of the Church. Father Joe was always in gear and never in neutral. He was in the active ministry of his priesthood until Bishop Nicholas accepted his resignation, and placed him to the administrative ministry, now Pastor Emeritus, St. Basil the Great Melkite Catholic Church in Lincoln, Rhode Island, on July 1, 2020.

Father Joe continued to live in Central Falls at the same parish house with the new Pastor, Reverend Father Ephrem Kardouh who came from Calgary, Canada. St. Basil's Rectory was founded in 1875 as a Mansion and is now located in the historic area of Central Falls and registered as such. March 13, 2021, marked a historic milestone in the priesthood of Father Joe as he was ordained 55 years as a priest. Father Ephrem prepared a video life history of him and presented it to him at a virtual celebration due to the Covid Pandemic, a great culmination.  Before he passed away, Father Joe had just marked his 59th anniversary as a priest while convalescing at St. Antoine Community in North Smithfield, Rhode Island.

Father Joe will be waked at St. Basil the Great Melkite Catholic Church in Lincoln, Rhode Island, on Friday, April, 4, 2025, from 2:00 pm until 6:30 pm immediately followed by the Byzantine Funeral Prayer For Clergy from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm.  The Parish will honor him with an overnight Prayer Vigil at the Church.  Father Joe's Funeral Divine Liturgy will take place on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 10:00 am and will be presided by His Excellency Bishop Francois Beyrouti followed by the Rite of Committal at St. Basil Cemetery in Cumberland, Rhode Island.

Please click here to view The Byzantine Funeral Prayer for the Clergy

Please click here to view The Funeral Divine Liturgy.

Donations in Father Joe's memory, may be made to the St. Basil the Great Melkite Catholic Church Building Fund, in lieu of flowers.

May Father Joe's memory be eternal.